Dust supply from river floodplains: the case of the lower Huang He (Yellow River) recorded in a loess–palaeosol sequence from the Mangshan Plateau

The Mangshan Plateau is located on the south bank of the Huang He (Yellow River) just west of the city of Zhengzhou, well outside the Loess Plateau in central China. Mixing models of the grain‐size data indicate that the loess deposits are mixtures of three loess components. Comparison of the mixing model with existing models established for a series of loess–palaeosol sequences from the Loess Plateau indicates that the Mangshan loess has been supplied from a proximal dust source, the Huang He floodplain, during major dust outbreaks. The high accumulation rates, the composition of the loess components, and especially the high proportions of a sandy loess component support this. Owing to the exceptionally high accumulation rates, the Mangshan grain size, magnetic susceptibility and carbonate records provide a high‐resolution archive of environmental and climate change. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Luminescence dating of sand–loess sequences and response of Mu Us and Otindag sand fields (north China) to climatic changes

The sand–loess transition zone in north China is sensitive to climate change, and is an ideal place to investigate past environmental changes. However, past climate change at millennial–centennial timescales in this region has not been well reconstructed because of limited numerical dating. Alternations of sandy loam soils with aeolian sand layers in the Mu Us and Otindag sand fields, which lie along the sand–loess transition zone, indicate multiple intervals of dune activity and stability. This change is probably a response to variations of the East Asian monsoon climate during the late Quaternary. The single aliquot regeneration (SAR) optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating protocol, which has been successfully applied to aeolian deposits worldwide, is applied to these two sand fields in this study. The OSL ages provide reliable constraints for reconstruction of past climate changes at suborbital timescale. Sections in both sand fields contain aeolian sand beds recording millennial‐scale episodes of dry climate and widespread dune activation, including episodes at about the same time as Heinrich Event 5 and the Younger Dryas in the North Atlantic region. These results demonstrate the potential of aeolian sediments in semi‐arid north China to record millennial‐scale climatic events, and also suggest that dry–wet climate variation at the desert margin in China may be linked to climatic change elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, through atmospheric circulation. This article was published online on 27 November 2008. An error was subsequently identified. This notice is included in the online and print versions to indicate that both have been corrected (16 December 2008). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A 20‐ka climate record from Central Himalayan loess deposits

The southwest monsoon that dominated Central Himalaya has preserved loessic silt deposits preserved in patches that are proximal to periglacial areas. The occurrence of such silts suggests contemporary prevalence of cold and dry northwesterly winds. Field stratigraphy, geochemistry, mineral magnetism, infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and radiocarbon dating has enabled reconstruction of an event chronology during the past 20 ka. Three events of loess accretion could be identified. The first two events of loess deposition occurred betweem 20 and 9 ka and were separated by a phase of moderate weathering. Pedogenesis at the end of this event gave rise to a well‐developed soil that was bracketed around 9 to > 4 ka. This was followed by the third phase of loess accretion that occurred around 4 to > 1 ka. Episodes of loess deposition and soil formation are interpreted in terms of changes in the strength of the Indian southwest monsoon. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Habitat, occurrence and conservation of Saharo-Arabian-Turanian element Forsskaolea tenacissima L. in the Iberian Peninsula

The aim of this study is to assess the Iberian populations of Forsskaolea tenacissima L. according to its biogeographical interest, habitat, geographical range and conservation status. Results point out that they are restricted to gravel wadis of Tabernas Desert (SE Spain), are scarcely included in protected areas and represent historically isolated populations with relict behaviour. We also describe a new association, Senecioni-Forsskaoleetum tenacissimae. Conservation status of species is cause for concern and two conservation actions must be carried out. Firstly, protected areas should house Forsskaolea populations and secondly, phytosociological characterization of a community allows inventorying its habitat and directing conservation efforts to community level.     

乌兰布和沙漠东北边缘植物群落物种多样性及其生态环境

应用群落多样性指数（Ｄ）、均匀度（Ｊ）、生态优势度（Ｃ）等指标，对乌兰布和沙漠东北边缘不同生境（荒漠区、绿洲外围、绿洲内）的天然植物群落进行了研究，结果表明这三种指标值能有效地表征群落的组成结构特征及生境的优劣；荒漠植物群落多样性指数（Ｄ＝０．６０３～２．９８４）和均匀度（Ｊ＝０．３３７～０．６９１）都较低，而生态优势度（Ｃ＝０．７２４～０．１９５）较高，说明荒漠植被生态环境的脆弱性，群落结构越复杂，多样性指数越高；多样性与生态环境关系密切，Ｄ和Ｊ随生境渐好而递增，Ｃ随生境渐好而递减，可作为环境评价指标；多样性在一定程度上体现了群落的发展阶段和稳定程度，越接近顶级阶段，多样性越高，且环境的改善有助于群落演替进程的加速；干旱区弃耕撩荒地次生演替植被，在弃耕初期多样性随弃耕年限增大而减小，后期处于一个较稳定的水平，且各演替阶段植物组成变化较大。     

山东地区黄土研究综述

山东地区黄土开始堆积时期普遍较晚,目前已见的剖面中,以青州傅家庄剖面堆积厚度最大(30 m以上),起始堆积时间最早,出露的最老层位为L9,TL测年时间约为0.8 Ma B.P.。山东地区黄土成因类型多样,物质来源广泛,其岩性特征与其他地区的黄土有明显的差别;在本地区内部,黄土的差异也比较明显,大体可分为两大成因分布区:渤海湾滨海与岛屿区和鲁中山前区。前者黄土粒度较粗,且普遍含有海相微体化石,其物质来源主要为末次冰期时期出露的渤海陆架物质,西北气流携带而来的内陆远源物质占次要地位。而后者黄土类型成因多样,东部的潍坊、青州黄土分布区,受到末次冰期时强劲冬季风的影响,物质来源主要为北部出露的渤海湾,向西至淄博、济南地区则已逐渐过渡为西北内陆风尘物质成分占据主导。     

极端干旱沙漠中无沙埋干扰时几种固沙植物栽植试验研究

沙埋干扰是沙漠地区乡土植物生存繁殖的必要条件。在塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地,无沙埋干扰地段大多是高矿化度地下水埋深较浅的地段,这些地段盐渍化较重。7a定点观测和试验表明,塔里木沙漠公路沿线丘间地栽植固沙植物逐渐死亡的主要因素不是沙层水分和沙层盐分,而是高矿化度地下水埋深太浅(0.8~1.0 m),即这类地段植物死亡的原因主要是由于植物长期吸收高矿化度地下水使得体内盐分积聚过多无法调节而造成的。因此,在干旱区高矿化度地下水埋深太浅的地段,无沙埋干扰时建立固沙植被应谨慎。     

南疆沙漠腹地大气边界层气象要素廓线分析

利用塔中80m观测塔梯度系统采集的2006年8月、10月和2007年1月、4月的风、温度、湿度资料,结合气象站的同步气象资料,对南疆沙漠腹地近地层四季的晴天平均风速、温度、湿度廓线分布特征进行分析。结果表明,晴天平均风速白天随高度升高增加缓慢,夜间较快,低层风速白天比夜间大,高层则白天比夜间小,春夏季风速较大;四季平均温度廓线表现为夜间辐射型、早上过渡型、白天日射型和傍晚过渡型等四种类型,早、晚过渡时间四季各有不同,日最低、最高温度出现时间四季则相差不大;冬季夜间比湿随高度升高而增大,整个80m近地层表现为逆湿状态,其他季节逆湿一般出现在0．5—1m、1～2m、32—47m、63—80m等4个层次上,各逆湿层出现的时间各季节有所差异。     

石英标准生长曲线在青藏高原东缘黄土光释光测年中的应用

石英标准生长曲线（SGC）法在黄土高分辨率光释光定年中有大幅节省测试时间的潜力,然而目前对该方法在不同时空尺度上的适用性尚存在争议。本文选取青藏高原东缘的典型黄土样品,通过系统地分析石英光释光生长曲线特征,检验SGC法和最小二乘法标准化生长曲线（LS-SGC）法在高原东缘黄土光释光定年中的适用性,结果显示：1）高原东缘黄土石英光释光信号以快组分为主,且同一地点不同样品、不同测片的生长曲线形态相似;2）当等效剂量（D_e）小于100 Gy时,不同地点样品石英生长曲线形态一致;大于100 Gy时生长曲线则具有不同的剂量响应特征;3）通过SGC法获得的D_e仅在0~100 Gy与实测值一致;LS-SGC法拟合的生长曲线结果更佳,并且LS-SGC法计算的D_e在100~200 Gy与实测D_e仍具有较好的一致性。研究结果有助于深入研究高原黄土光释光测年和风成沉积过程,同时也可为其他区域建立石英光释光标准生长曲线提供借鉴。

     

Ecophysiology of the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) in the Saguaro National Monument: relationship to symptoms of decline

The purpose of this study was to examine physiological correlates to the phenomenon of epidermal browning and saguaro decline in Saguaro National Monument. Gas exchange characteristics, surface temperatures, and the extent of epidermal browning in tissues of both healthy and declining saguaro cacti (Carnegiea gigantea) at different solar orientations were examined in eight long-term monitoring plots in the Rincon Mountain District of the Saguaro National Monument near Tucson, Arizona during both wet and dry seasons and years.Daily maximum surface temperatures were greatest on west-oriented tissues, as predicted by a simple model. However, south- and south-west-oriented tissues showed the highest browning indices, suggesting that browning may be more related to cumulative thermal loading than to extreme late afternoon temperature events. During the wet season, maximum nocturnal CO₂uptake rates and total nocturnal CO₂uptake were negatively correlated with browning index. Uptake rates during dry seasons and dry years was minimal, and not related to browning indices. However, healthy tissues of saguaros that also had tissues with high browning indices had wet-season maximum CO₂uptake rates as high as saguaros without damaged tissues, suggesting that the browning is not systemic but rather is tissue- and angle-specific. Instantaneous measures of water-use efficiency did not vary significantly or predictably by angle, but rather were greatest during night-time and in tissues when CO₂uptake was greatest. We suggest that browning symptoms on cacti are most likely due to natural abiotic stress, and are unrelated to systemic pollution stress or increased UV-B radiation.